Personalization of excimer laser fibers

Abstract

The invention provides personalized laser probes for use in laser systems, wherein each laser probe includes one or more characteristics tailored to a given user to thereby improve performance of and outcome of a laser treatment procedure.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system configured to perform an intraocular procedure, said system comprising:
 a laser unit comprising an excimer laser source; and 
 a plurality of laser probes couplable, one at a time, to said laser unit, each of the plurality of laser probes comprising a handheld component, a delivery tip insertable into an incision of an eye, and a fiber optic core configured to transmit laser energy from the excimer laser source to a target tissue for treatment thereof, wherein the plurality of laser probes comprises different laser probes having different characteristics, wherein the plurality of laser probes further comprises:
 a first laser probe comprising a first handheld component having a first size or shape, and 
 a second laser probe comprising a second handheld component having a second size or shape that is different than the first size or shape, 
 
 wherein each of the first laser probe and the second laser probe are each compatible for use with the laser unit, 
 wherein each of the plurality of laser probes further comprises an outer jacket surrounding the fiber optic core, and 
 wherein a first outer jacket of the first handheld component comprises a first degree of flexibility and a second outer jacket of the second handheld component comprises a second degree of flexibility different from the first degree of flexibility. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of laser probes are each single-use, disposable probes. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber optic core of each of the plurality of laser probes further comprises a proximal end detachably couplable to the laser unit and a distal end including a delivery tip configured to emit laser energy from the excimer laser source. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 2 , wherein a first delivery tip of the first laser probe has a first flexibility level and a second delivery tip of the second laser probe has a second flexibility level different from the first flexibility level. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 3 , wherein a first delivery tip of the first laser probe has a first angle and a second delivery tip of the second laser probe has a second angle different from the first angle. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first size or shape of the first handheld component comprises a first width of the first handheld component and the second size or shape of the second handheld component comprises a second width of the second handheld component that is different from the first width. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first size or shape of the first handheld component comprises a first length of the first handheld component and the second size or shape of the second handheld component comprises a second length of the second handheld component that is different from the first length. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first size or shape of the first handheld component comprises a first diameter of the first handheld component and the second size or shape of the second handheld component comprises a second diameter of the second handheld component that is different from the first diameter. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the target tissue comprises at least one of a trabecular meshwork or a Schlemm's canal of a human eye. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the intraocular procedure comprises a laser trabeculostomy. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the handheld component of each of the plurality of laser probes further comprises a finger grip portion. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the finger grip portion further comprises ridges or depressions. 
     
     
       13. A system configured to perform an intraocular procedure, said system comprising:
 a laser unit comprising an excimer laser source; and 
 a plurality of laser probes couplable, one at a time, to said laser unit, each of the plurality of laser probes comprising an outer jacket surrounding a fiber optic core, wherein the fiber optic core is configured to transmit laser energy from the excimer laser source to a target tissue for treatment thereof, wherein the plurality of laser probes further comprises:
 a first laser probe comprising a first outer jacket having a first degree of flexibility, and 
 a second laser probe comprising a second outer jacket having a second degree of flexibility that is different than the first degree of flexibility, 
 
 wherein each of the first laser probe and the second laser probe are each compatible for use with the laser unit. 
 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the target tissue comprises at least one of a trabecular meshwork or a Schlemm's canal of a human eye. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of laser probes further comprises a handheld component surrounding at least a portion of the fiber optic core, wherein at least two of the plurality of laser probes have handheld components of different sizes or shapes. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the handheld component of each of the plurality of laser probes comprises a finger grip portion. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 16 , wherein the finger grip portion further comprises ridges or depressions. 
     
     
       18. A system configured to perform an intraocular procedure, said system comprising:
 a laser unit comprising an excimer laser source; and 
 a plurality of laser probes couplable, one at a time, to said laser unit, each of the plurality of laser probes comprising:
 a handheld component, 
 a fiber optic core, and 
 an outer jacket surrounding the fiber optic core; 
 
 wherein each of the plurality of laser probes is configured to transmit laser energy from the excimer laser source to a target tissue for treatment thereof; 
 wherein the plurality of laser probes comprises different laser probes having different characteristics; 
 wherein the plurality of laser probes further comprises:
 a first laser probe comprising a first handheld component having a first size or shape, 
 the first laser probe further comprising a first outer jacket having a first degree of flexibility, 
 a second laser probe comprising a second handheld component having a second size or shape that is different than the first size or shape, and 
 the second laser probe further comprising a second outer jacket having a second degree of flexibility that is different than the first degree of flexibility, and 
 
 wherein each of the first laser probe and the second laser probe are each compatible for use with the laser unit. 
 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the laser energy is emitted from the delivery tip. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the fiber optic core forms part of the delivery tip.